I really like this project. They have been able to do a lot in a short amount of time. Operable steam locomotive, track built, turntable installed, and doing it out in one of the more sparsely populated areas of the country too.

That turntable is nicely balanced. Look at how it just wanted to keep on going after they got it moving.

We literally were still getting the turntable working on Friday. There are some more finishing touches to be added, like the push poles.

_________________John Meixel

Les Beckman

Post subject: Re: Locomotive #4 rides turntable in Como, Colorado

Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 3:54 pm

Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pmPosts: 5022

Really nice restoration! Lots of progress made at Como. The one thing that I was surprised about, was the lack of a front coupler on number 4. But, I thought, not going to use that end of the engine. And then I saw them pushing GB&L gondola #1020 onto the turntable. I would think that this is a serious safety concern. Am I wrong?

Les

Ron Goldfeder

Post subject: Re: Locomotive #4 rides turntable in Como, Colorado

Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 4:42 pm

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 2:46 pmPosts: 540Location: St. Louis, MO

This is a tremendous accomplishment that has been going on in one sense or another for at least 24 years. During that time the girders of the turntable have been moved three times and many people have been involved. It is the 105th turntable that has been moved for reuse by a tourist railway or a museum, and the most unusual one of all. It is also now one of 39 of those back in use. Here is a summary of the story as I pieced it together over the years, and I would appreciate any additional information or corrections as this is mostly from Internet sources. I would also like to know the length of it as there is conflicting info out there.

By 1993 a 50’ (60’?), 3’ gauge turntable that may have come from the Como, Co roundhouse of the Denver South Park & Pacific/Colorado & Southern was moved back into its original pit at Como. This had been removed after the abandonment of the line in 1937 and its side girders used, along with those of another turntable, as the supports of a roof for a building in Denver. Both were discovered and donated to the Georgetown Loop operation in the mid-1970s when the building was demolished. They were reassembled but never used for lack of suitable locations on the line. They were stored at Silver Plume until their location was needed for the new engine house, and there was no operational need for them. They were sold to Jerry Buckley who brought them to a site below the dam at Georgetown, next to where he later built a small hydro-electric power plant. This was a second preservation move for these turntables. Bill Kazel, then owner of the Como Roundhouse, contacted him about buying the rounded-bottom turntable, which looked like the original turntable bridge at Como. Mr. Buckley initially declined because he thought they might come in handy. Eventually, Buckley needed money, and contacted Bill to see if he was still interested. They agreed on terms, which included having Buckley deliver the bridge to Como. Time passed and the bridge stayed in Georgetown, where it was being buried by dirt excavated for the power plant. Bill finally gave up, and had an opportunity to pick the turntable up by himself, and it eventually moved a third time to Como. The 1881 six-stall stone roundhouse has been undergoing private stabilization and restoration for several years, and the old pit was dug out to take the returned turntable. It looks like the original turntable bridge, and the construction date of the City & County building it was found in was consistent with when the original turntable bridge was been removed from Como, so it could be the original turntable bridge. It is missing its support wheels, ring rails, and other parts at this time, but does have a few ties and two lengths of rail sitting on one end reaching about to the half way point. The fate of the second turntable Mr. Buckley had is unclear.

In 2015 an original narrow gauge turntable pivot for the Como turntable has been located and donated to the Como roundhouse project. It has been disassembled for inspection and repair. Before work stopped for the winter the crew removed the turntable from the pit and turned it upside down so that what is necessary to make the connections can be determined and so that the turntable pit can be assessed. A civil engineer has been retained, and the group has detailed drawings of the turntable.

The group restoring the Como roundhouse had the turntable back in operation on August 18, 2017. When the turntable was reassembled by a Navy SB unit it was made slightly wider than originally but still fit in the Como pit. The pivot being used in the restoration was a different type than it had when built and a design to adapt it to this turntable was needed. The end guide wheels were also on hand but ring rails also had to be obtained. On August 18 2-6-2 Klondike Mines #4 was turned on the turntable and installation was nearly complete. The remaining details needing to be completed included push poles for turning it by hand and walkways on the ties.

_________________Ron GoldfederSt. Louis

Jason Midyette

Post subject: Re: Locomotive #4 rides turntable in Como, Colorado

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 8:46 pm

Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2004 11:06 pmPosts: 207Location: Bendena KS

When the gondola was pushed onto the turntable, its handbrake was set and it was chained to the locomotive.

The church camp in Oklahoma did not desire a front coupler so they disposed of it and its related parts. No. 4 will have a front coupler installed next spring.

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